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what's the best machine to use?

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Posted 11/29/2006 4:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone, I'm new here, but I've been around on the depression board. My husband was diagnosed as being prediabetic and was wondering what was the best testing machine to buy? And I guess the least pain free too, he's not very happy about this and I will be the one checking his sugar. There are so many out there so I'm a little confused on what to get. Thanks!

Dee37
Posted 11/29/2006 6:58 AM (GMT 0)
I use and prefer the Accu Chek Advantage. it gives me the longest time to add blood to the strip. On some, if you dont get enough the first time the strip is ruined and you have to use another. But the downside is it is the slowest to show the reading. Fair trade for me.
I think it is a personal preference then as I am sure others can and will tell you why they like theirs.
Also look around and check with the pharmisist you may be able to get the meter for little or no cost with the purchase of strips. Don't pay for a meter when you dont have to.
AL
Posted 11/29/2006 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
Dee,
You are not the one with pre-diabetes and you are not responsible for your husband's sugar levels, diet or exercise.HE IS! He is the one who will need nutrition and exercise classes, he is the one responsible for what he eats, what foods are purchased and in the house and how often he tests.

The sooner he faced up to the ins and outs of this disease the better off he will be. You are a loving wife and I understand you wanting to help him out but he's the one who will need to do the carb counting and make the decisions about what goes in his mouth. He is the one who should be keeping the journal of foods, meds and exercise so he can evaluate what's up with which foods and how they affect his blood glucose levels. I'm sorry that he isn't happy about his diagnosis... none of us are.

Now is the time for him to learn what he can and cannot have and how much. Now is when he starts putting the correct foods on the shopping list for him to keep his sugar levels moderate. You can both do this together and you will find that the new way of eating is better for both of you, but you can't do this for him. He is responsible for his own health care.

If he needs a little shove in the right direction you can tell him that good glucose control leads to less problems with blindness, kidney damage, and neuropathy. Good glucose control also can lessen problems with erectile dysfunction and impotence. These are all issues that diabetics and prediabetics face. Our spouses can help us face them, but they cant' face them for us.

Just my 2ยข, and free unsolicited advice so take it for what it's worth.
Posted 11/29/2006 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
I use the LifeScan One Touch meters. I have the Ultra2, the UltraSmart, and the UltraMini. The first two allow you to add comments such before and after meal, how you're feeling (sick, hypo etc) and stuff like that. They download through a USB port to the computer so you can print and go with your numbers to the doctor, diabetes educator etc. The UltraMini- I carry around in my purse for testing when I am shopping, exercising, or out and about. I got all of them for free. You can go to LifeSCan.com- they usually have some nice promotion going on. If your husband likes gadgets- this is the meter for him.  I use the BD ultra fine 33 gauge lancets in the stabber and never feel a thing any more :-)   Best of luck to you both. sandy
Posted Yesterday 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone for your replies, and thank you Jeannie for that little dose of the truth. And I do mean that, you are correct, and I guess I just really needed to hear it. I guess I'm just really scared. I don't have much family, just my mom. I lost my dad 11 years ago when I was 24 to health issues that he didn't get the proper care for, it was to late. My mom is in bad shape and I'm scared something will happen to my husband. Bottom line, I'm afraid of loosing the people I have left, so I guess I will do everything I can to prevent that, but now I know in the end it's up to them. He did quit smoking and this weekend he wants to look around to join a gym with a personal trainer, which I think is great. I told him I don't care what it costs as long as he gets healthy. I did get a testing machine, the EasyGluco one, it was free. We tested before and it was 112 then 3 hours later again and it was 296? He's going back to the doc on Friday, so we'll take it from there. I guess I just hope he starts to take things a little more seriously.
Thanks again-

Dee
Posted Today 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hey, Dee!
I don't want to lose my hubby either, but he is as thick as a board when it comes to his health! He had a dental infection because he was afraid to go to the dentist... It got into his bloodstream and eventually settled in his ankle and he came up with a systemic infection that put him in the hospital. The doctors were at a loss about where it came from until I brought up the cracked tooth and all the pain he had been in...

WHOO-EEE! You wanna see some mad doctors! He was in the hospital on three different kinds of antibiotics until they could find one that worked, could have lost his leg, COULD HAVE LOST HIS LIFE!!! Because he was afraid to go to the dentist.... (LOL!)

Has your hubby's doctor ordered the nutrition classes yet? If not, call the office and get some classes. If they don't offer them then get on Amazon.com and find a book about diabetic nutrition (not a cook book) that will give you all the basic info about his diet. Get him to read and understand it. We can help you a lot but he has to do the heavy lifting.

Take care. We'll be here.
Posted Today 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
Boy, My husband sounds like yours. I won't even go into how afraid he is of the dentist. I don't get it. He goes to the doc on Friday, so we'll see, he knows what he needs to do, I hope. If not he's gonna learn like everybody else. Just so stubborn I want to smack him sometimes. He saw what his Grandfather went through being diabetic and both of his parents are and just about every aunt and uncle, so you would think?
I will have him look into the books, as I said HIM do it, I can't do everything for him, your right. He knows I will help in any way I can, key word, help, but he's the one that has to help himself. Thanks for waking me up. :) And for being there-

Dee
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